Call for innovative approach to Mahurangi waste recovery

An inspiring approach to waste recovery, which was set up at Helensville in 1996, could be used as a model for a similar operation in Mahurangi.

Permaculture tutor Trish Allen says she understands that Auckland Council is open to community initiatives at the Lawrie Road transfer station at Snells Beach and the Rustybrook Road transfer station in Wellsford, when Northland Waste’s contract for these facilities comes up for review next year.

“I was blown away by the presentation by Treena Gowthorpe, the site manager at the Helensville Community Recycling Centre, to a Rodney Local Board meeting last month,” Trish says.

“I’m sure that with community support, we could form a proposal to put to Council to establish a centre in the north.”

 

The Helensville facility operates four days a week and is almost self-funding. It has grown to employ 10 part-time staff, backed up by volunteers, and has achieved a 70 per cent diversion rate of waste away from landfill.

Trish says she floated the idea of a northern facility at a recent Matakana Community Group meeting where it was well received.

Some of the ideas put forward for the site include a repair shed, a bicycle repair shed, a Men’s Shed, a composting/worm farming facility, a baling station for recycling, a dismantling service to extract higher grade scrap metals, a commodities processing facility, separation of builders waste, and an Environment Centre.

“We’d love to get the word out a bit wider, with a view to forming a group or groups of people to develop a proposal.”

 

Anyone interested in contributing ideas can contact Trish Allen on 422 9422.